Apparatus and method for improving the ride quality of lift trucks

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for reconditioning tires while on lift trucks where a cutting tool is mounted to the lift truck and brought in contact with the tire and the tire is rotated, thereby removing material to return the tire to a more circular shape.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to material handling andmore particularly relates to lift trucks, and even more particularlyrelates to an apparatus and method for improving the ride quality oflift trucks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the past, lift trucks have been used extensively for materialhandling, including indoors. Many of these lift trucks use solid rubbertires, often referred to as cushion tires. These cushion tires come inseveral varieties, including those designed not to leave skid marks onthe floor. While these tires have many advantages, they also haveseveral drawbacks. These tires are relatively expensive and they oftenbecome worn or damaged. Uneven wear of the tires can result in vibrationduring operation of the lift truck. Moreover, excessive vibration can bedangerous. Since these cushion tires typically serve as the suspensionfor the lift truck, any vibration caused by the tires may be transmittedto the load or to the operator. Lower back problems are not uncommonamong lift truck drivers who operate with worn tires. Often, operatorscompensate for the worn tires by operating the lift trucks at lowerspeed, thereby reducing productivity.

[0003] Consequently, there exists a need for improvement in lift trucktires and the quality of ride they provide.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide enhanced ridequality for lift trucks.

[0005] It is a feature of the present invention to recondition the wornand damaged tires.

[0006] It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce thefrequency of tire replacement and its associated cost.

[0007] It is another advantage of the present invention to decrease thelift truck downtime required for uneven tire wear remediation.

[0008] It is yet another advantage of the present invention to enhancethe environment by reducing the frequency of discarding tires.

[0009] It is another feature of the present invention to use a lifttruck mounted tire reconditioning device.

[0010] It is another advantage of the present invention to provide fortire wear remediation without requiring removal of the tire.

[0011] The present invention is an apparatus and method for improvingthe quality of ride for lift trucks, which is designed to satisfy theaforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include theabove-listed features and achieve the already articulated advantages.The present invention is carried out in a “tire removal-less manner” ina sense vibration caused by excessive tire wear can often be greatlyreduced without a requirement to remove and replace the tire.

[0012] Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method forreconditioning lift truck tires, using a carriage-mounted device forremoving portions of the tire.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention may be more fully understood by reading thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, inconjunction with the appended drawings wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of the apparatus of the presentinvention mounted on a carriage of a lift truck.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG. 2.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a back side view of an apparatus of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer tolike matter throughout, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is showna system of the present invention, generally designated 100, whichincludes a lift truck 102, having a front wheel 101, front tire 103. Thelift truck 102 also has a fork 104 coupled to a carriage 106 coupled toa mast 108, in a well-known manner. Coupled to carriage 106 is theapparatus of the present invention, generally designated 110, having afront side 112 and a material removal adjustment screw 114. Also shownis material removing apparatus 122 disposed in a position near fronttire 103.

[0019] Now referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a perspective view of theapparatus of the present invention 110. In general, the apparatus 110 isshown as a three-sided assembly of rigid panels, including front side112, back side 118 and top side 116. However, it should be understoodthat any mechanism for coupling material removing apparatus 122 to alift truck 102 could be substituted. The side panel may be of aluminumor any material which is suitable for providing the necessary structuralsupport for the material removing apparatus 122. The apparatus 110 fitsover a portion of the lift truck carriage 106 of FIG. 1. The apparatusis coupled to the carriage by several attachment screws 128, which maybe threaded to accommodate various carriage designs. Top side 116 andback side 118 are coupled through a hinge 120, for allowing pivotalmotion of the back side 118. Top side 116 is rigidly coupled to frontside 112, which is detachably rigidly coupled through attachment screws128 to the carriage 106. The material removing apparatus 129 can bemoved to a desired position with respect to front tire 103, by materialremoval adjustment screw 114. Material removing apparatus 122 may be aset of carbide tips, a single knife edge, a laser or any other deviceswhich are capable of removing rubber or other material from the surfaceof a rotating lift truck tire. Material removing apparatus 122 may befixed to the back side 118, or it may be adjustable with lateraladjustment mechanism 124. Other adjustments, including vertical andangular adjustments, could be provided as well. Lateral adjustmentmechanism 124 may be manipulated with manual crank 126. Alignment of thematerial removing apparatus 122 with respect to the tire 103 may befurther improved by alignment screws 129. Since the apparatus 110 can beused on various lift trucks, it may include a handle 130 for easyinstallation and removal. Manual crank 126 and material removaladjustment screw 114 may be substituted with various other mechanical,electro-mechanical and computer devices for controlling the removal ofmaterial from the tire. Well-known techniques of lathe operation andcontrol techniques can be readily implemented, depending upon theprecise design requirements for any particular apparatus.

[0020] Now referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a front view of theapparatus 110 of the present invention which shows the variousattachment screws 128 used to couple the front side firmly with thecarriage 106.

[0021] Now referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a back side view, whichmore clearly shows the placement of material removing apparatus 122,shown having a plurality of sharp tips for cutting surfaces.

[0022] In operation, the present invention accomplishes the goal ofimproving the ride of lift trucks by providing a readily deployablemethod and apparatus to recondition the surface of a lift truck tire.The method of the present invention is as follows:

[0023] First, provide some adjustable material removing apparatus;

[0024] Second, cause the lift truck tire to spin,

[0025] Third, engage the material removal apparatus so as to removematerial from the spinning tire in a controlled adjustable fashion.

[0026] In a preferred method, a plurality of carbon tips is caused toengage the rotating tire. The tips are adjusted so that they causeadditional material to be removed from the tire surface.

[0027] While throughout this description, the invention has beencharacterized as a means for improving the ride of a lift truck, it iscontemplated that other uses and other vehicle types could be servicedas well. Additionally, while the apparatus may be best used whenattached to a lift truck, it can be used as well as a separate apparatuswhich is detached from the lift truck, such as, but not limited to, anassembly up to which a lift truck could drive, or an assembly which isplaced next to the lift truck.

[0028] It is thought that the method and apparatus of the presentinvention will be understood from the foregoing description and that itwill be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, constructsteps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of theirmaterial advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferredexemplary embodiment thereof.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for reconditioning a tire on a wheel on a lift truck, the apparatus comprising: means for removing matter for said tire; means for adjusting said means for removing so as to control the removal of material from the tire, so that, if said wheel is rotated, said means for adjusting can be manipulated so as to cause the means for removing matter to remove matter from the tire.
 2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tire is a solid tire.
 3. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for removing matter is a laser.
 4. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for adjusting is a screw adjusted pivoting member.
 5. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for removing is coupled to said lift truck.
 6. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for adjusting is a screw adjusted pivoting member.
 7. An apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for adjusting is vertically adjustable through a coupling to a mast-mounted carriage on said lift truck.
 8. A method of reconditioning a tire on a lift truck comprising the steps of: rotating the tire while it remains attached to the lift truck; providing a material removing apparatus in proximity to said tire; adjusting said material removing apparatus so as to control material removal from said tire.
 9. A method of claim 8 further comprising the step of using a lift on said lift truck to raise the tire above a surface upon which the lift truck is positioned.
 10. A method of claim 8 wherein said providing a material removing apparatus includes providing a laser.
 11. A method of claim 8 wherein said step of adjusting said material removing apparatus is done with a computer processor.
 12. A method of claim 8 wherein said step of adjusting said material removing apparatus is done with a manual adjustment.
 13. A method of claim 9 wherein said step of rotating the tire is accomplished through a drive train on said lift truck.
 14. A method of claim 8 wherein said step of rotating the tire is accomplished through a drive mechanism detached from said lift truck.
 15. A method of claim 8 wherein said step of rotating is accomplished in part with a detached device for elevating said tire.
 16. A method of claim 8 further comprising a step of adjusting said material removing apparatus so as to remove additional matter from said tire.
 17. An apparatus for reconditioning a solid lift truck tire for a lift truck, the apparatus comprising: a clamp coupled with a vertically adjustable portion of said lift truck; a multi-edged cutting tool coupled to said clamp; and, an adjustment mechanism coupled to said cutting tool and said clamp for variably positioning said cutting tool with respect to said tire.
 18. An apparatus of claim 17 wherein said cutting tool is a plurality of carbide tips.
 19. An apparatus of claim 18 wherein said adjustment mechanism is a sliding mechanism.
 20. An apparatus of claim 19 wherein said cutting tool is pivotally coupled with said clamp.
 21. An apparatus for reconditioning a tire on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: a cutting tool coupled to the vehicle; an adjustment mechanism for moving said cutting tool in relation to said tire; whereby said tire can be reconditioned if said tire is rotated, and said adjustment mechanism controls a placement of said cutting tool to a position where the cutting tool contacts the tire and material is removed from the tire by the cutting tool while the tire rotates. 